Cushioning device with digit loop and method of making the same



July 2, 1957 c. F. CRAWFORD 2,797,686 CUSHIONING DEVICE WITH DIGIT LOOP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 8, 1954 lnya mica? C/zzzz [rap {yard v I Wh, l I fig ttqs Fatented July 2, 1957 CUSHIONING DEVICE WITH DIGIT LOOP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Claud F. Crawford, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application January 8, 1954, Serial No. 402,937

9 Claims. (Cl. 128-80) This invention relates to a cushioning device and method of making the same, and more particularly to a surgical cushioning device for application to the hand or foot of a user, the device being equipped with a digit loop to encircle a finger or toe and hold the device in position, the device lending efiective cushioning aid to the region immediately behind or adjacent a digit head, although the device will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of surgical cushioning appliances have been developed, and in connection with appliances of the character to lend cushioning aid to the ball of a foot or in the region of the metatarsal arch, these formerly known devices were not as form fitting as desirable especially when carrying a digit loop, and were not as economically manufactured as is desirable. Heretofore, when these devices were stamped out of a sheet of stock material in the form of a single pattern, the toe loop did not flatly engage a toe of the foot, and when a device was so constructed to provide a desirable form of toe loop, the cost of production was objectionably high.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide an economical surgical cushioning device which may easily be made from a single blank of material, and which when completed carries a digit loop of the character to flatly engage a finger or toe.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple economical form of cushioning device for disposition underneath the foot or hand in the region of digit heads and which device may be formed from a simple single piece pattern by a facile cementing operation in order to provide a digit loop that flatly embraces a digit.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a cushioning device carrying a digit loop, which may be made from a single pattern in which the body part of the device is split entirely therethrough, and ultimately joined by cementing the adjacent edges.

Also a feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cushioning device of the character set forth herein wherein the body portion in the initial pattern is divided transversely therethrough, and ultimately joined by cementing adjacent edges, with the cementitious seam in line with a digit loop integral with the completed body part.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a cushioning device of the character set forth herein carrying a digit loop, and wherein the body portion is initially in separate parts joined by a substantially straight seam, but with the adjacent edge portions of the body part serrated, pinked, or otherwise varied to eliminate the effect of a straight shearing pull upon the cemented seam.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a new and novel method of making a surgical cushioning device carrying a digit loop.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cushioning device embodying principles of the instant invention showing the same operatively associated with a human foot illustrated in phantom outline;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the original pattern for the device, as the pattern is severed from a stock sheet;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the pattern formed into the device;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the structure of Fig. 1, taken substantially as indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a plan view similar in character to Fig. 3, but showing a slightly different form of construction.

As shown on the drawings:

While the instant invention may be applied to either a hand or foot of the user, with the digit loop encircling a finger or toe, it will be herein described as associated with the human foot. When the device is properly associated with the human foot 1 illustrated in phantom outline in Fig. 1, it is disposed beneath the plantar surface of the foot in the region of the metatarsal arch with the digit loop of the device encircling a toe. In that position, the device gives cushioning relief to the foot during walking, alleviates callosities on the ball of the foot, and otherwise lends corrective aid and comfort to the user, especially in the case of an afflicted or weak foot.

With reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the device may be made substantially from a single pattern stamped or otherwise severed from a sheet of stock material. The pattern embodies a pair of oppositely disposed substantially half body portions 2 and 3 connected by a relatively narrow neck portion 4. The material is preferably foam latex to the outer face of which a suitable cover 5 may be bonded either by adhesive, or by curing the latex directly to the cover. Other materials may be utilized, such as soft felt for the cushioning part of the device, but foam latex is more desirable because of its great resiliency, great restorative powers, soft and comfortable feel to the body of a user, launderability, and further because of the fact that if the cells are intercommunicative, the device provides a ventilative result when in use. The cover 5 may be of any suitable material such as a latex skin, a fabric on the order of cotton drill, nylon satin, or any other desirable substance.

After the stamping of the pattern seen in Fig. 2, it is a simple expedient to rotate one of the body portions 2 or 3 through a complete revolution so as to bring the straight edge portions 6 and 7, respectively, into juxtaposition. These edge portions are then secured together by a suitable cement to form a substantially straight seam 8 as seen in Fig. 3. When the one body portion is rotated to bring the edges 6 and '7 together, the neck portion 4 forms a toe loop generally indicated by numeral 9, and it will be noted that this toe loop is of such a character as to flatly encircle a digit, with no projecting portion to buckle under an article of footwear or the like to the discomfort of the user. As seen in Fig. 3, the seam 8 is preferably in alignment with the toe loop, and it will be noted that one body portion is slightly smaller in size than the other body portion, so that the toe loop is nearer one end of the resultant body part than the other end. In the illustrated instance it is nearer the right end of the body part than the left end, and thus the device is especially adapted for use on a left foot. By reversing the relative sizes of the body parts 2 and 3, the

toe loop ll be n rer. he oppos t end o v the de ce.

and the resultant device will be specifically adapted'for use with a right foot.

The device may be utilized satisfactorily as seen in Fig. 3, but in some, instances added; cushioning property is desirable, and it may be desirable to cover the seam 8'. This. may be accomplished by cementitiously bonding another layer 10 of cushioning material over the body portion of the device, as. seen in Figs. 1 and 4... This second layer 10 is preferably of less. size than the body part formed of portions 2 and 3, so as to leave exposed a circumscribing marginal portion of the under body part and thus eliminate the discomfort of a thick abrupt edge in contact with the foot. With the edges of the layer 10. and the under body part out of ahgnment, there is a comfortable and easy contact with the foot.

Preferably, the body part "of the device is ovate in shape and with the toe loop offset nearer one end of the device than the other, the major axis of the oval substantially parallels the transverse arch of the human foot so that the device is in the most effective position.

In use, it is a simple expedient to engage the toe loop 9 over a toe, preferably the second toe, and the device underlies the metatarsal arch region of the foot. The device may be held into. contact with the foot by the hosiery or footwear of the user, and the toe loop efiectively prevents the device from slipping out of proper position. Further, the device preferably has. a concaveconvex shape in the body part, as seen in Fig. 4, with the concavity uppermost to more comfortably receive a plur-ality of metatarsal heads and adjacent fleshy part of the foot;

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the device of substantially the same construction, but in this instance the portions 2 and 3, instead of having straight edges 6 and 7, respectively, have serrated, pinked, or edge portions 11 and 12 otherwise varied from the straight. Consequently, when these edge portions are secured together and the resultant seam formed there is an interlocking of the edge portions which eliminate a straight shearing pull upon the resultant seam, during use, and materially strengthens the device so that there will be little or no. tendency for the seam to be pulled apart.

7 My novel method of making the cushioning device is believed sufliciently apparent from the foregoing as to warrant no further description herein.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel, economical and simply formed cushioning device for application to either the hand or foot of a user, which device may be made from a single stamped pat: tern, and which device embodies a digit loop of the char-v acter that will flatly encircle a digit. In addition, the device is long lived, very effective in its functions, may be comfortably worn, and laundered whenever desired.

It Will be understood that modifications and variations may be elfected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention as defined by the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cushioning device for human usage, including a body part comprising two portions bonded edgewise in the central region of the device, and a digit loop integral with said body part, the bonded edges of said portions extending across said body part from one side of said digit loop.

2. A cushioning device for human usage, including a body part comprising two portions bonded edgewise in the central region of the device, and a digit loop integral with said body part, the bonded edges of said portions being complementally serrated therealong and interlocked.

3. A cushioning device for application to an extremity of the human body, including a body part of cushioning material, a digit loop integral with said body part, and said body part comprising two parts having complementally serrated edges interlocked and secured together to form a seam extending across. the body part from said digit loop.

4. The method of making a. cushioning device for application to a human extremity, including the steps of severing a single blank comprising two oppositely disposed substantially half body sections connected by a neck portion merging with the outer bounding edges of said sections, rotating one of said sections to bring said outer edges into abutment whereby said neck portion forms a digit loop, and bonding said edges, together across the interior of the now complete body portion.

5. The method of making a cushioning device for application to a human extremity, including the steps of severing a single blank comprising two oppositely disposed substantially half-oval body sections connected by a neck portion merging with the outer and substantially straight side edges of said sections, rotating one of said sections to bring said outer edges into abutting relationship whereby said neck portion forms a digit loop, bonding said edges together across the interior of the now complete body part, and securing a sheet of cushioning material over the joined sections to cover the joint between said edges.

6. In a foot cushioning device, a body part made from a blank initially comprising a pair of substantially half body port-ions connected by a neck portion with said half body portions oppositely disposed, one of said half body portions having been rotated relatively to the other to bring initially opposite edges into confronting relationship, said edges being secured together forming the complete body part, and said neck forming a digit loop.

7. In a foot cushioning device, a body part made from a blank initially comprising a pair of substantially half body portions connected by a neck portion with said half body portions oppositely disposed, one of said half body portions having then rotated relatively to the other to bring initially opposite edges i-nto confronting relationship, said edges being secured together to form the complete body part and with the seam extending entirely across the body part, saidneck forming a toe loop, and one of said half bodyportions being larger than the other whereby said toe loop is offset from the median line of the body part to fit the device to a particular foot.

8. A blank of cushioningmaterial for a foot cushioning device comprising a pair of approximately semi-ovate body portions each having a substantially straight edge and being oppositely disposed, and a narrow curvate neck portion connecting said body portions at points immediately adjacent the straight edges thereof.

9. A cushioning device for human usage, including a body part comprising two substantially half body portions each having a complete side edge thereof substantially straight, said edges being abutted and bonded together across the body part, and a digit loop integral with said body part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,671 

